Wolves-Houston game preview

February 9, 2014 - 10:24 PM

7 p.m. vs. Houston • Target Center • FSN, 830-AM

Preview: The Wolves, losers of three in a row, are three games below .500 and in danger of having their first four-game losing streak of the season. The Rockets have won five in a row, a stretch that included victories over San Antonio, at Dallas and Phoenix.

Players to watch: Wolves PG Ricky Rubio scored a career-high 25 points with nine assists vs. Portland on Saturday. It was his seventh career 20-point game. F Shabazz Muhammad came off the bench Saturday to score a career-high 12 points. F Dante Cunningham is coming off his first double-double of the season. Rockets G James Harden is averaging 23.7 points per game. C Dwight Howard has scored 20 or more in five consecutive games.

Numbers: Saturday was Wolves F Chase Budinger’s second game with more than one three-pointer. Even without Kevin Love or Nikola Pekovic, the Wolves had a 52-28 edge in points in the paint Saturday. Wolves C Ronny Turiaf’s 13 rebounds Saturday were his most since 2009. Houston hit 17 three-pointers while beating the Wolves Nov. 23.